Fire-hydrant.



7. 0 9 1 L T.. G O D E ..m| N B T. A P New AA MR MD Gm .E V.R FH 4.. 4.uw 7 6 8 0I N APPLICATION FILED DEO. 20, 1906.

Tnt Nomzls PETERS co WASI-"Naro". n. c.

FRANK V. CARMAN, OF` OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

FIRE-HYDRANT.

specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 1, 1907.

Application filed December Z0, 1906. Serial No. 348,774.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK V. CARMAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-I-Iydrants, 0fwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the class of hydrants, especially intended forlire protection.

The object of my invention is to provide a fire-hydrant which is adaptedto be, practically, instantaneously opened by raising the nozzle, thelatter being adapted to be elevated to any angle and turned in anydirection.

To this end my invention consists in the connection with a normally opensupply, of a nozzle with a suitable valve-structure adapted to be openedand closed by swinging the nozzle, suitable interposed joints to enablethe nozzle to be elevated to any angle and turned in any direction, andsuitable controlling means for said valve and joints, all as I shallhereinafter fully describe, by reference to the accompanying drawings,in which,

Figure 1 is a vertical section of my lire-hydrant. Fig. 2 is a face viewof the nozzle-valve-casting. Fig. 3 is a face view of thevalve-seat-casting. Fig. 4 is a detail elevation of the pawl and ratchetcontrol of the horizontally rotating union joint.

The stand pipe 1 has an elbow 2 to which, by a suitable connection 3 iscoupled the supply valve 4, which is to be left open at all times,except when repairs are made on the hydrant, such as packing, etc.

To a connection 5 from the supply valve 4 is fitted a union joint whichpermits horizontal movement of the hydrant. This joint comprises acasting 6 screwed to the connection 5, a flanged elbow 7 seated in thetop of the casting G with intervening packing 8, and a cap ring 9 boltedto the casting, with intervening ballbearings 10 and track-ring 11between itself and the flange of the elbow 7. By this connection theelbow 7 may be rotated in a horizontal plane. The elbow 7 at its otherend is fitted with another joint which will permit movement of thehydrant in a vertical plane. This joint is composed of avalve-seat-casting 12, to the end of which is fitted, with packing 13, aflanged nipple 14 screwed on the elbow 7: a cap-ring l5 bolted to thecasting confines the nipple against a ball-bearing 16 with track-ring17. By this connection the valve-seat-casting 12 may rotate in avertical plane on the nipple 14.

18 is the nozzle fitted to an elbow 19 which is screwed to thenozzle-valve-casting 20. This casting is seated against the face of thevalve-seat-casting 12, and is held to place by a cap-ring 2l, withintervening ballbearing 22 and track-ring 23. Thus, the nozzle may turn,with its valve-casting 2O in a vertical plane, on the face of thevalve-seat-casting.

The valve-seat-casting 12 is provided with opposite ports 24, as seen inFig. 3, and the nozzle-valve-casting is provided with opposite ports 25,as seen in Fig. 2.

When the nozzle is hanging down, as shown in Fig. 1, the ports of thetwo castings do not register, and the water is shut off. But, when thenozzle is swung up-l wardly the ports will register and the water willfiow. On account of the shape and dimensions of these ports, it will beseen that they will register, practically, instantaneously by moving thenozzle.

The vertical swing of the nozzle. to reach the full alinement of theports is limited and defined by studs 26 projecting from the face of thevalve-seat-casting, playing in grooves 27 in the face of thenozzle-valvecasting 20. i

The several limitations and control of the movements of the hydrant areas follows. In order to hold the valve open, when the hydrant is in use,there is a sliding lock-bolt 28 fitted to the cap-ring 21, which isadapted to engage, either by gravity or otherwise, with a hole 29 in thenozzle-valve-easting 20, when said casting is turned to fully registerthe ports. In order to lock the joint between theV elbow 7 and thevalveseat-casting l2 against movement while the nozzle is being swung upto open the ports, and then to relieve said jointto enable the nozzle tobe turned to an angle above the horizontal while the ports are open,there is a sliding lock-bolt 30 fitted to the cap-ring l5 which isadapted to engage a hole 31 in the nipple 14. In order to control thehorizontally rotating joint between the casting 6 and the elbow 7,.there is a two-legged safety pawl 32 pivotedto the elbow 7 and adaptedto oppositely engage a ratchet 33 on the cap-ring 9, the movement of thepawl to either side permitting movement of the joint in one directionwhile holding it against movement in the other direction, as is shown inFig. 4. This device prevents the hydrant from back movement caused bypressure of water issuing from the nozzle tip.

34 is a handle attached to the nozzle-elbow 19,t0 assist in operatingthe nozzle.

The operation of the hydrant is as followszThe normal position, when notin use, is shown in Fig. 1, the supply valve 4 being open, and the watershut off at the valve joint formed by the castings 12 and 20. To use thehydrant, the nozzle is first lifted in a vertical are, until the ports24 and 25 register7 and the water immediately issues. This open positionis maintained by the lock-bolt 28 dropping, or being otherwise moved, toengage the hole 29 in the casting 20. Then, to elevate the nozzle stillmore, the lock-bolt A30 is lifted from its engagement with the hole 31,whereby the valve-seat-casting 12 is free to turn on the nipple 14. Toswing the nozzle, thus elevated, to any position horizontally, thedevice is now turned on the union joint formed between the casting Gandthe elbow 7;

and, finally7 the pawl 32 is turned to the proper side to engage theratchet 33, and thus to hold said joint against back pressure caused bythe Water issuing from the nozzle tip. Thus, every possible position maybe reached by the nozzle, and its movements properly controlled.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is l, A fire-hydrant comprising a universallyjointed connection from a normally open supply; a nozzle; a rotatablecoupling joining the nozzle to said connection; and a valve-structureincluded in said coupling and operated by the movement of the nozzle toopen and close the fluid communication between said connection andnozzle.

2. A fire-hydrant comprising a universally jointed connection from anormally open supply; means for temporarily locking said connectionagainst movement; a nozzle; a rotatable couplingjoining the nozzle tosaid connection; and a valve-structure included in said coupling andoperated by the movement of the nozzle to open and close the iiuidcommunication between said connection and nozzle.

3. A tire-hydrant comprising a universally jointed connection from anormally open supply; means for temporarily locking said connectionagainst movement; a nozzle; a rotatable coupling joining the nozzle tosaid connection; a valve-structure included in said coupling andoperated by the movement of the nozzle to open and close the fluidcommunication between said connection and nozzle; and means for lockingsaid valve-structure in an open position.

4. A tire-hydrant comprising a normally open supply; a verticallydisposed connection therewith, having interposed in its length, ahorizontally rotatable joint; a horizontally disposed connection coupledto the vertical connection; and having interposed in its length, avertically rotatable joint; a normally depending nozzle having avertically rotatable connection with said horizontal connection; and avalve-structure in said rotatable nozzle connection, opened and closedby swinging said nozzle.

5. A fire-hydrant comprising a normally open supply; a verticallydisposed connection therewith, having interposed in its length, ahorizontally rotatable joint; a horizontally disposed connection coupledto the vertical connection, and having interposed in its length, avertically rotatable joint; a normally depending nozzle having avertically rotatable connection with said horizontal connection; avalve-structure in said rotatable nozzle connection, opened and closedby swinging said nozzle; and a locking device for said rotatable nozzleconnection to hold the valve open.

6. A tire-hydrant comprising a normally open supply; a verticallydisposed connection therewith, having interposed in its length, ahorizontally rotatable joint; a horizontally disposed connection coupledto the vertical connection, and having interposed in its length, avertically rotatable joint; a means for locking and releasing saidjoint; a normally depending nozzle having a vertically rotatableconnection with said horizontal connection; and a valve-structure insaid rotatable nozzle connection, opened and closed by swinging saidnozzle.

7. A tire-hydrant comprising a normally open supply; a verticallydisposed connection therewith, havingl interposed in its length, ahorizontally rotatable joint; a horizontally disposed connection coupledto the vertical connection; and having interposed in its length, avertically rotatable joint; means for locking and releasing said joint;a normally depending nozzle having a vertically rotatable connectionwith said horizontal connection; a valve-structure in said rotatablenozzle connection, opened and closed by swinging said nozzle; and alocking device for said rotatable nozzle connection to hold the valveopen.

S. A tire-hydrant comprising a normally open supply: a verticallydisposed connection therewith, having interposed in its length, ahorizontally rotatable joint; a means for locking said joint in eitherdirection; a horizontally disposed connection coupled to the verticalconnection` and having interposed in its length, a vertically rotatablejoint; a normally depending nozzlc` having a vertically rotatableconnection with said horizontal connection; and a valve-structure insaid rotatable nozzle connection. opened and closed by swinging saidnozzle.

i). A tire-hydrant compi lng a normally open supply: a verticallydisposed connection therewith. having intorposed in its length, ahorizontally rotatable joint; a means for locking said joint in eitherdirection; a horizontally disposed connection coupled to the verticalconnection. and having interposed in its length, a vertically rotatablejoint; a means t'or locking and releasing said joint; :t normallydepending nozzle having a vertically rotatable connection with saidhorizontal connection; a vnlvcstructure in said rotatable nozzleconnection. opened uml closed by swinging` said nozzle: und a lockingdevict` t'or said rotatable nozzle connection to hold the valve open,

10. In a tire-hydrant. the combination ot' a normally open supplyconnection; a nozzle; a rotatable valvt` joint between them comprising:t lastng on the end ot' the .supA ply connection. having ports, :tcasting on thc nozzle base, havingl ports, and means for rotatably'tilting the castings together to etlect the alinetnent ot' said portsthrough the swinging movement oi' the nozzle; and a locking device forsaid joint to hold the ports in alinement.

l1. ln a lire-hydrant, the combination ot a normally open supplyconnection; a nozzle; a rotatable vulve joint between them comprising acasting on the end ot thc supply connection, having ports, a casting onthe, nozzle. bar-c. having ports, and means ior rotatably titting thecastings together to effect the aiinement oil said p orts through theswinging movement ot' the nozzle; means tor delining tht` movement otthe nozzle to aline the ports; and a locking device for said joint tohold .said ports in alincment.

In testimony whereof l have `signed my name to this specification in thepresence ot` two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK HARMAN,

Witnesses N. A. AeKnn, L. E. WILKINS.

